Mitch McConnell has laid bare the Republicans’ candidate problem
2 years, 4 months ago

Mitch McConnell has laid bare the Republicans’ candidate problem

The Independent  

In the past few days, Mitch McConnell, the leading Republican in the Senate, has articulated a problem that could come back to bite the GOP in November’s midterm elections. “Candidate quality.” In terms of pure numbers, with the Republicans needing a net gain of just one seat – as McConnell points out – the task of taking control of the upper chamber of Congress would appear easier on paper. Well, former president Donald Trump has certainly had an impact – endorsing candidates that will more than likely have factored into McConnell’s arch use of the word “quality”. Masters is a big supporter of Trump, while Johnson has also been – although his campaign has sought to try and get some distance between Johnson and the former president in recent days, with the candidate saying the Senate race is “about Wisconsin” and side-stepping questions about Trump.

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History of this topic

A look at the candidates vying to be the next Senate majority leader
1 month, 1 week ago

A look at the candidates vying to be the next Senate majority leader

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — In the first seriously contested Senate Republican leadership election in decades, three senators are vying to replace longtime GOP leader Mitch McConnell when he steps down from the post at the beginning of next year and Republicans take back the Senate majority. South Dakota Sen. John Thune, Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Florida Sen. Rick Scott have been …

GOP losses 'only strengthen Donald Trump's hand' over Senate leadership: Morning Joe
1 month, 1 week ago

GOP losses 'only strengthen Donald Trump's hand' over Senate leadership: Morning Joe

Raw Story  

MSNBC's Joe Scarborough said a string of Republican losses in swing state races could give him leverage in the battle to replace Mitch McConnell as GOP leader. Some of the president-elect's advisers believe he should block Sen. John Thune, who is disliked in MAGA circles, in a leadership struggle against Sen. John Cornyn and Sen. Rick Scott, and the "Morning …

Senate Republicans Boasted Of An Ultra-Favorable Map. Now The Pressure Is On.
2 months ago

Senate Republicans Boasted Of An Ultra-Favorable Map. Now The Pressure Is On.

Huff Post  

Sen. Mitch McConnell listens as Sen. Steve Daines speaks during a media availability on Capitol Hill. “This is the best opportunity in a generation to maximize Republican Senate seats,” said one GOP strategist, requesting anonymity to speak frankly about the party’s faltering chances. “They’re leaving seats on the table, and it’s going to hurt GOP chances of holding the Senate …

'He's In A Tough Position': Mitch McConnell's Influence Wanes In Trump's GOP
10 months, 1 week ago

'He's In A Tough Position': Mitch McConnell's Influence Wanes In Trump's GOP

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING WASHINGTON — Mitch McConnell is widely known to be a cunning, Machiavellian tactician who maximizes his party’s power in the Senate to accomplish hugely consequential conservative victories, including a right-wing Supreme Court majority that may last for decades. A bill that paired foreign aid with conservative border policy got even less GOP support — just 4 votes …

As some call for his ouster, McConnell pushes back on GOP critics: ‘They’ve had their shot’
10 months, 2 weeks ago

As some call for his ouster, McConnell pushes back on GOP critics: ‘They’ve had their shot’

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — After months of negotiations and delays, the Senate on Thursday voted to move forward on legislation that would provide wartime aid to Ukraine and Israel. He added in another post, “Senate GOP leadership screwed this up — and screwed us.” While McConnell’s job isn’t immediately in danger, and the vast majority of the conference still supports him, the …

Mitch McConnell is blowing off Trump as he eyes 2024 election
1 year, 7 months ago

Mitch McConnell is blowing off Trump as he eyes 2024 election

Raw Story  

Now that he is back at work after a rehab stint following a fall, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is working feverishly to line up candidates for U.S. Senate seats he thinks are within reach in the 2024 election before Donald Trump can intercede like he did in the 2022 midterms to disastrous results for the GOP. According to a …

Sidelined: How the Trump-DeSantis face-off is causing chaos in the GOP
1 year, 10 months ago

Sidelined: How the Trump-DeSantis face-off is causing chaos in the GOP

Raw Story  

The 2024 Republican presidential field is coming together more slowly than expected after Donald Trump became the first to jump into the race. So far the only serious would-be challengers seem to be Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Mike Pence and Mike Pompeo -- although none of them have officially announced -- but Republican insiders are surprised by how many potential …

Column: The real winner from the House fight? Mitch McConnell, the Senate’s indispensable man
1 year, 11 months ago

Column: The real winner from the House fight? Mitch McConnell, the Senate’s indispensable man

LA Times  

President Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell after a joint event at a bridge connecting Kentucky and Ohio that will be upgraded with money from the bipartisan infrastructure deal. The House speaker at the time, John A. Boehner, couldn’t govern his own majority; White House aides joked that Boehner “couldn’t deliver a pizza.” It took weeks of negotiations between …

McConnell reelected Senate GOP leader: ‘Not going anywhere’
2 years, 1 month ago

McConnell reelected Senate GOP leader: ‘Not going anywhere’

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Sen. Mitch McConnell was reelected as Republican leader Wednesday, quashing a challenge from Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, the Senate GOP campaign chief criticized after a disappointing performance in the midterm elections that kept Senate control with Democrats. “I think everybody in our conference agrees we want to give it our best shot.” At a GOP senators lunch …

Republicans Are In Total Disarray After The 2022 Midterms
2 years, 1 month ago

Republicans Are In Total Disarray After The 2022 Midterms

Huff Post  

LOADING ERROR LOADING Their disappointing performance in this week’s midterm elections has landed the Republican Party in a big mess. “I don’t think that vision was adequately provided by multiple folks on top of our party.” Before the election, McCarthy and his leadership team pitched a “Commitment to America” that they said would cure inflation, make the country safe and …

Democrats beat Trump-backed GOP candidates in liberal states
2 years, 1 month ago

Democrats beat Trump-backed GOP candidates in liberal states

Firstpost  

Democrats easily repelled Republicans backed by former President Donald Trump in several left-leaning states Tuesday, while tougher tests that could decide control of Congress and the future of Joe Biden’s presidency awaited in more competitive territory. Washington: Democrats easily repelled Republicans backed by former President Donald Trump in several left-leaning states Tuesday, while tougher tests that could decide control of …

Blake Masters: 'Everyone knows McConnell won't own me'
2 years, 1 month ago

Blake Masters: 'Everyone knows McConnell won't own me'

Daily Mail  

Republican Senate hopeful Blake Masters said he was prepared to be a thorn in the side of party leader Mitch McConnell if he pulls off a win in his bad-tempered battle in Arizona. Republican Senate hopeful Blake Masters says, if elected, he will use his vote in the Senate to hold up legislation and confirmations until he can get action …

Confident GOP unifies behind candidates once seen as risky
2 years, 1 month ago

Confident GOP unifies behind candidates once seen as risky

Associated Press  

ATKINSON, N.H. — New Hampshire’s Republican governor described Don Bolduc as a “conspiracy theory extremist” just two months ago. And the leader of the GOP’s campaign to retake the U.S. Senate stood at Bolduc’s side over the weekend and called him “a true patriot.” “I’m here for one reason, and that’s to make sure Don Bolduc is the next U.S. …

Democrats have improved their Senate odds — but here's how Republicans could still pull off a victory
2 years, 2 months ago

Democrats have improved their Senate odds — but here's how Republicans could still pull off a victory

Raw Story  

On Friday, writing for The New York Times, Lauren Leatherby and Jonathan Weisman outlined the current state of play for control of the U.S. Senate in the November midterm elections. "Earlier this year, Senator Raphael Warnock, a Democrat in Georgia, had been considered one of the Senate’s most vulnerable Democrats as he took on Herschel Walker, a scandal-prone Republican backed …

McConnell suggests better odds of Republicans taking Senate
2 years, 2 months ago

McConnell suggests better odds of Republicans taking Senate

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Wednesday that he believes his party now has a “50-50 shot” of getting the chamber back less than six weeks away from the midterm elections. “It’s going to be really, really close either way, in my view.” The comments reflect a greater degree of optimism from the GOP leader after he drew …

Column: In Arizona, fears that yet another flawed candidate may cost GOP control of Senate
2 years, 3 months ago

Column: In Arizona, fears that yet another flawed candidate may cost GOP control of Senate

LA Times  

When Republicans sought a candidate to take on Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly, a prime target this election season, the obvious choice was Doug Ducey, the state’s accomplished and relatively popular two-term governor. The result was a venomous GOP primary and a nominee, Blake Masters, whose provocative statements and problematic stances — on abortion, Social Security, former President Trump’s election lies …

McConnell takes a veiled shot at GOP Senate 'candidate quality' as polls show Trump's picks struggling
2 years, 4 months ago

McConnell takes a veiled shot at GOP Senate 'candidate quality' as polls show Trump's picks struggling

Raw Story  

Sen. Mitch McConnell on Thursday took a veiled shot at some of the candidates his party is running for the United States Senate. McConnell's comments on the Senate being less likely to flip are particularly striking given that the GOP only needs a net gain of one seat to retake control of the chamber. IN OTHER NEWS: January 6 participant …

Trump-backed Arizona Senate candidate escalates election fears ahead of GOP primary
2 years, 5 months ago

Trump-backed Arizona Senate candidate escalates election fears ahead of GOP primary

CNN  

CNN — Arizona Republican Blake Masters, who earned Donald Trump’s endorsement for the Senate race by embracing the former President’s lies that he won the 2020 election, has turned to questioning whether the 2022 midterm election will be legitimate, as he tries to lock up support among the party faithful ahead of next month’s primary. Last week, Wisconsin GOP Sen. …

Republican ‘unforced errors’ threaten path to Senate control
2 years, 9 months ago

Republican ‘unforced errors’ threaten path to Senate control

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — As the prospect of a red wave grows, a series of Republican missteps including recruiting stumbles, weak fundraising and intense infighting is threatening the GOP’s path to the Senate majority. Rubio’s campaign declined to say specifically whether he supported Scott’s plan when asked, issuing a statement instead that called Demings “a do-nothing member of Congress who has never …

Trump brags about destroying Mitch McConnell’s plan to recruit a coveted Senate candidate
2 years, 9 months ago

Trump brags about destroying Mitch McConnell’s plan to recruit a coveted Senate candidate

Raw Story  

Former President Donald Trump celebrated on Thursday after Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell failed at recruiting a top contender to challenge Sen. Mark Kelly in the 2022 midterm elections. Doug Ducey of Arizona reaffirmed his decision Thursday not to run for the Senate this year, dealing a blow to Mitch McConnell, the Senate minority leader, while delighting former President Donald …

McConnell says he’d support Trump if he wins 2024 nomination
3 years, 9 months ago

McConnell says he’d support Trump if he wins 2024 nomination

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Less than a month after excoriating Donald Trump in a blistering floor speech, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday that he would “absolutely” support the former president again if he secured the Republican nomination in 2024. Should be a wide open race.” But when directly asked if he would support Trump again were he to win the …

Democratic-led Senate OKs first Biden nominee. But advancing the president’s agenda will be a struggle
3 years, 11 months ago

Democratic-led Senate OKs first Biden nominee. But advancing the president’s agenda will be a struggle

LA Times  

With the swearing-in of three new senators Wednesday, Democrats have more muscle in Washington than they have had in a decade, controlling the White House and both chambers of Congress. “We just passed a program with over $900 billion in it,” Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah said Wednesday when asked about Biden’s plans for more economic stimulus. Whether it’s Kentucky …

Senate GOP leader: Challenging Biden win threatens republic
3 years, 11 months ago

Senate GOP leader: Challenging Biden win threatens republic

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell urged fellow Republicans on Wednesday to abandon their effort to overrule President-elect Joe Biden’s election triumph, directly rebuking defeated President Donald Trump and asserting that the GOP drive threatened the country’s democratic foundations. Every four years would be a scramble for power at any cost.” After four years in which Trump has frequently …

Mitch McConnell just made the lives of his Republican colleagues a lot harder
4 years ago

Mitch McConnell just made the lives of his Republican colleagues a lot harder

CNN  

CNN — On Tuesday morning, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell publicly acknowledged the obvious: Joe Biden will be the next president of the United States. See, prior to McConnell, every Republican senator who avoided comment could rest assured knowing that unless and until McConnell came out with a definitive pronouncement about the election winner, they were golden. McConnell’s move also …

Biden wins over Trump in Arizona, Wisconsin confirmed
4 years ago

Biden wins over Trump in Arizona, Wisconsin confirmed

Al Jazeera  

Two battleground states certify US presidential election results in favour of President-elect Joe Biden as President Donald Trump refuses to concede. US President-elect Joe Biden’s election victory in the battleground states of Wisconsin and Arizona was confirmed following a partial recount in Wisconsin that added to Biden’s margin and certification of results in Arizona. The system is strong,” Ducey said, …

McConnell, Schumer to lead, but Senate majority uncertain
4 years, 1 month ago

McConnell, Schumer to lead, but Senate majority uncertain

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — Senators chose party leaders Tuesday with few changes at the top, but it’s unclear who will be the majority leader in the new Congress with no party having secured control of the Senate until a January runoff election in Georgia. Even if Republicans secure the final two races where ballots are still being counted in North Carolina and …

Democrats’ hopes for capturing a Senate majority fade
4 years, 1 month ago

Democrats’ hopes for capturing a Senate majority fade

LA Times  

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell won reelection on Tuesday, but which party will have a majority in 2021 is still an open question. Democrats’ hopes of sweeping to a Senate majority faded as marquee contests stretched into overtime early Wednesday and some of the most vulnerable Republican incumbents remained in contention while the vote counts dragged on. Sen. Mitch McConnell …

Arizona Senate race could play crucial role in confirmation
4 years, 3 months ago

Arizona Senate race could play crucial role in confirmation

Associated Press  

PHOENIX — If Arizona Democrat Mark Kelly wins a seat in the U.S. Senate, he could take office as early as Nov. 30, shrinking the GOP’s Senate majority at a crucial moment and complicating the path to confirmation for President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee. Trump has pledged to nominate a replacement for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a liberal icon …

Surging Democrats expand Senate targets to GOP states
4 years, 5 months ago

Surging Democrats expand Senate targets to GOP states

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — It’s come to this for Republicans straining to defend their Senate majority in November’s elections: They’re air-dropping millions of dollars into races in Alabama, Kentucky and other red states where Donald Trump coasted during his 2016 presidential election triumph. While saying he believes Republicans will win many of the contested seats, Ayres added, “It’s fair to say the …

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